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David Archuleta Wikipedia

David James Archuleta (born December 28, 1990) is an American singer-songwriter and actor. At ten years old, he won the children's division of the Utah Talent Competition leading to other television singing appearances.[6] When he was twelve years old, Archuleta became the Junior Vocal Champion on Star Search 2.[6] In 2007, at sixteen years old, he became one of the youngest contestants on the seventh season of American Idol.[7] In May 2008 he finished as the runner-up, receiving 44 percent of over 97 million votes.

@DavidArchie

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Here’s a Riddle for Ya and How the Milk Carton Kids Got Found

Posted by djafan on Wednesday, August 6, 2014

The previous post about The Civil Wars was an unanticipated preamble to the present article. I was in the process of writing about another duet I had recently discovered: The Milk Carton Kids. It was late at night when I saw the news of the Civil Wars ending and the thought struck me how numerous the similarities exist between them and TMCK. Both groups are/were duos. Both perform folk music. Both are known for pure, rich vocals and exquisite harmony. Both are accompanied only by accoustic guitar. Both are fueled by a body of lyrically intelligent songs with amazing meaning and melody.

Photo credit Brendan Pattengale

I had tickets to see The Milk Carton Kids perform next month. A few days ago, I got an email that all their shows for August and September had been canceled due to vocal strain. This was a blow, as when their tour starts up again in October, they will not be near enough for me to attend. Translation – they are not David Archuleta for whom apparently, no geographical coordinate within the continental United States is too far for me to travel.

But they are so talented and their music is poignant and gorgeous. The two struggled separately for years without much success until 2011 when Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan ditched their solo careers and became The Milk Carton Kids, blending so flawlessly their tenor voices that it’s almost like listening to one voice. They have since toured to sold-out venues in the US and Europe and been nominated for a Grammy for their album, The Ash and Clay. Here they are performing in an empty space they fill completely.

Video Credit ThePortlandSessions

Which brings me to what I was intending to write pre-Civil War. The touting of what a tour de force work of promotion The Milk Carton Kid’s have achieved in such a short time. Visit their official site and click on TOURS and you will find not just the upcoming tour dates, but all the past tours listed and every venue they’ve ever performed. I can’t help but think how gosh almighty that would look on David’s official site. Think of all the cities he has performed on tour, all the early TV appearances that could be listed. It would be a ponderous chain of events and an impressive page indeed. The Milk Carton Kids also have an entire page devoted to fans who do covers of their songs. Every fan, every cover, ever done and more being added all the time. How appreciative is that? There is even a listing and link at the bottom of every page of their OS for their Management, their Booking Agent and their Press Agent. But here is the savvy part, for this is how I came to know them and how it happened that I got online and purchased tickets to their concert. Their first two albums, Prologue and Retrospect are free for download on their OS. Smart. Back in 2011, the same year The Milk Carton Kids started, I wrote an article about music industry changes and the importance of seeing the world differently in this technological age. I encourage you to give it another look because it says a lot of what I want to say here but lack the space. Today, for a variety of reasons, the money is in tours and merchandise. But first, you have to get them to come to a show.

This is about an example of how a true artist with the right self-promotion can sell out venues without selling out. This is not about whether or not you like indie folk or that I want David to go that route. I don’t. I just want him to honor what is real and true for him musically. Considering his choice of Stephanie Mabey and Justin Christensen to work with, maybe it will sound something like the video below. All he has to do is get them to come out to a show. His voice and charisma will do the rest. Watch how the merest change of expression on his face elicits a reaction. Then the smile. He wins again.
Video Credit ArchuletaAvenue

60 Responses to “Here’s a Riddle for Ya and How the Milk Carton Kids Got Found”

bluesky4homesaid

(Okay….so that is an overly simple, completely replete, and almost mostly redundant way to comment on your ((tippity top)) article. But it is late in the day for me and I am a sandy-eyed, sleepy-brained, Please-Go-To-Bed, body. Suffice it to say: taste, heart, brain = happy. S’ nuff for now, and I do love you. Emensely. ^_^)

bluesky4homesaid

jans11said

I really believe that if David “builds it”, they (we) will come…..again…filling those venues up! I love where you say: “Translation-they are not David Archuleta for whom apparently, no geographical coordinate within the continental United States is too far for me to travel.”

David seems to be in control on getting back out there, I just have to be patient! 🙂 And that little teaser of the Spanish song sure doesn’t help my patience! Come on, David hurry up! 🙂 🙂

Abrrasaid

Wow! I really enjoyed this duo. I haven’t heard such wonderful harmony since the Everly Brothers and CSNY.

I just finished an online college course after reading Pandasmama’s article https://thevoicedavidarchuleta.com/2014/04/20/the-music-industry-in-the-digital-age/ and I agree that the music industry has flipped the emphasis of the music driving the revenue stream. It’s all about performing the music and selling tickets. Once an artist has you in the seat, they have your attention. It’s up to them to showcase what they have to make you want to buy the music once you leave the concert.

Abrrasaid

David Archuleta @DavidArchie
“We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have…
David Archuleta @DavidArchie
…but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”
– Frederick Keonig

bebereadersaid

I agree, Angelica.
Their voices blend together so well that it almost seems like one person is singing. It’s unfortunate that the show you had tickets for was cancelled. 😦 But looking at their Fall tour schedule, it’s not surprising that they needed vocal rest. They are scheduled for back-to-back shows for two weeks straight with one day break in between. Still, they seem like innovative young guys who are on the right track for a successful career.

But in addition to talent and the ability to be savvy, I do believe that you need some old fashioned good luck to succeed in this business. I wish all of that and more for David. 🙂

djafansaid

Laying here trying to sleep rereading your article and watching that performance of David singing the Riddle, he had “it”and clearly still does. Just look at how they all want a piece of him. And this is so spot on that i have to repost 🙂

“This is about an example of how a true artist with the right self-promotion can sell out venues without selling out. This is not about whether or not you like indie folk or that I want David to go that route. I don’t. I just want him to honor what is real and true for him musically. Considering his choice of Stephanie Mabey and Justin Christensen to work with, maybe it will sound something like the video below. All he has to do is get them to come out to a show. His voice and charisma will do the rest. Watch how the merest change of expression on his face elicits a reaction. Then the smile. He wins again.”

MTsaid

Angelica,
Great article. It’s so hard to make it in today’s industry, it’s really sad to see some groups who have actually managed to make a success of their career have to give it up and start over for whatever their reason. As for this group, I hope you do eventually get to go to their concert. 🙂

And this … “All he has to do is get them to come out to a show. His voice and charisma will do the rest.” … So true!

Bebe,
LOLing at the tweets. You know they’re thinking “so close and yet so far.”

collegemomsaid

yes – “All he has to do is get them to come out to a show. His voice and charisma will do the rest.” I remember when David was singing in the SF Bay Area and I sent e-mails to local colleges to try to get them to put it in their announcements, etc. (sort of pre-twitter). I have always felt that if all the local high school and college students are given just one week “heads’up” via their school entertainment twitter or list of upcoming events e-mails, that he would get a ton of young people at any concert. But how to get that into that info out there at the right time for the different target ages (about a week or two for students, 3 weeks or so for older groups, etc.) Get it onto twitter, etc. I guess this is what Gina or some marketing person could do easily after doing research about the area of the concert in advance and then just pop out the information. Oh well….I am rambling…..and hopeful……..

Yes, David just needs to build it and they will come and by that, I mean he needs to find his own sound and write the songs, which he is doing. Cover album are great but they don’t garner the respect of original works. AI was a good way to launch but he was right to unfollow it. It is an albatross around his neck. I think he is absolutely correct to take his time.

Djafan, you asked how they came up with their name. The video I posted of the Portland Session has them singing the song “Milk Carton Kid” and has the line, “I don’t feel the pain I once did. One day it just vanished, like a milk carton kid.” So I guess it came out of that feeling.

Just a little background on the guitars and mics they use. Joey, the taller one, plays a 1951 Gibson and Kenneth plays a 1954 Martin. I guess guitars, like women, just get better with time. 🙂 Neither of the guys had a voice lesson in their life so they are true primitives vocally. The mics they use are little “assemblage” works of art, hand-made from copper plumbing supplies and vintage bicycle parts by http://www.eartrumpetlabs.com/products/microphones/ The one they use is Edwina and all the other mics made by this workshop are named for women and referred to as “she.” Edwina has a 2 layer mesh grill backed with silk! In the video I posted, look how far away they stand from her. Can we all just take up a collection and buy one of these for David? Maybe we could see his face more when he sings and I would love to hear the sound he could produce with her.

bluesky4homesaid

I am clapping my hands. I love their sound (TMCK). I watched the Lincoln performance 2.5 times (over an hours worth… I laughed SO hard!) and I am totally up for watching it again. Glad for the info on the mics – “a mic by any other name?”

Oh, my gosh… if DA ever OWNED his sense of humor, can you imagine!!!! *_*

Bluesky, I bought the CD of the live show at Lincoln Theater. Isn’t Joey hilarious! He has SUCH a dry sense of humor and delivers it so deadpan and Kenneth mostly laughs and tells him he’s just wrong. David does have that “dry wit” too, so maybe he could work that into his show someday..

Thanks, Emmegirl. I’m doing pretty dang good, considering.
Everyone has been so good to me, so loving, so nice.
Also, (and I think I’ve mentioned this) one of my favorite book series has been made into a series on Starz, and it begins
tonight. I can’t tell you how excited I am to watch it. I’ve waited 20 years for this. (Outlander)

bluesky4homesaid

Betsy,
I have thought about your story these several days. It hits very close to home since a close neighbor of ours had a similar thing happen to her this last year. She was also in her car driving at the time. Actually, she maneuvered through a four-way stop as well, not knowing how she did it. She is still recovering.
I am beyond grateful that you are all right. Please be well.
bluesky

Abrrasaid

aaliyahrosemusic
57 minutes ago
Look who i ran into today.. one of my singing inspirations @davidarchie ♥♥♥ He had some great advice for me… i have been such a fan since American Idol. So nice meeting him!! #haveablessedsunday #ifeelmysaviorslove #aaliyahrosemusic

betsysaid

Bluesky, thank you for thinking of me. 🙂
Believe it or not, this has been life-changing. And not medically. That stuff can and will heal.
Right now, all I feel is loved. It’s all I need.
Because.
I found out that one of my sisters tried to contact David through Twitter to get him to
message me or something lol. I won’t look it up (I could but don’t want to see it) but the fact that
she thought of that just kills me.
My stepdaughter was beside me at the hospital the entire time. Went to the store and bought me a
sundress/underwear to leave the hospital in. Remembered everything I forgot.
My sons came home and stayed here. Bought me my favorite treats. Hugged me every 10 minutes.
My adult children’s friends drove 4 hours to come and see me. I found out I was a like a second mother to them,
and never knew they thought this.
A very sweet nun visited me in the hospital and gave me communion. She reminded me of my mom.
I guess what I’m saying here is that life is so fricken beautiful. ♥

Abrrasaid

Betsy, You are so blessed. I had tears after reading your comment. It’s such a relief to have family step in when we are not able to manage. We take care of our children for so many years and they love the chance to give back. I hope your hubby is back from his trip. I can’t imagine getting that kind of news so far from home.

betsysaid

Abs, Robert came home last night, late. (actually, about 2 a.m.)
They had no idea of what happened, they were too far away to get cell reception. He was on a fishing trip that was part drive in/
part fly-in. They started getting texts 2 days ago, on their way home.
He had planned this trip for over a year and I told everyone to NOT call him.
That was my biggest worry. Anyway, he’s home now. And driving me nuts with his comments about me not taking off
my back brace, which I have been known to do. It’s uncomfortable! 🙂

Betsy…going through such a terrible journey with our son recently I found out that we have several of the same friends here who are caring people sending along their thoughts and prayers making a huge difference. In one day I heard from people from all over and the next morning the doctor used the word miraculous in his morning visit. There is so much good energy that comes from caring people.

Knowing David has become a very positive addition to life in general even with whatever changes he makes to his own life.

bluesky4homesaid

He has always wanted to be free from the “clothing” conundrums that can effect so much of life. So, to go from a church meeting where he welcomes a friend home, to a stint of sight-seeing without needing to shed one apparel for another……

Wait, am I talking about DA here? *shakes head* His nature is the opposite of one of my sons, for whom the choice of clothing is a necessary delicacy of every day life, to be savored and enjoyed as fully as any other form of expression.

MTsaid

SB,
I’m so glad your son turned out to be one of the miracles! 🙂 Praying for continued healing for him.

Bluesky,
“His nature is the opposite of one of my sons, for whom the choice of clothing is a necessary delicacy of every day life, to be savored and enjoyed as fully as any other form of expression.”

I had to smile at that because my son is exactly the same way. If he hasn’t gotten his hair perfect and donned just the right outfit he just doesn’t feel right. LOL Not surprising since, as you all know, his mom is all about hair and clothes. 😉

bluesky4homesaid

We, DA are part of your team. You may be in the process of discovering a new way to interact with us.
You may not have a real clue how it will be. That can make you shy. (There are meanies and crazies out there after all.)

yet….. somehow, I still believe that we are unique. like you. and when you brilliantly discover or create anew a new way to play with us in the “field of all possibilities” I suspect it will be something wonderful to be part of…. and quite possibly, it will amaze even you.

Bluesky, MT, tawna and djafan…
Thank you for thinking about my son. It will takes several weeks but he will get stronger. He has a new baby coming in October. My cooking skills are being put to the test!!

First I didn’t care for plaid then I really didn’t care for shirts buttoned to the top. I was watching a special on “One Direction” and at least one of the five performs often with a shirt very similar to David’s. So I am not in fashion!

So sorry to hear that Robin Williams lived with so much pain. The healing music of David’s is very positive during difficult times.

djafansaid

Bluesky, I believe we are going to bring DA to tears when he feels are love. And oh the tears will be free flowing from us. Be ready for epic times coming our way 🙂

That mustache picture, the comment, the hashtag phrase lol. I think David has taken his wit to a whole new level.

That buttoned up shirt was from yesterday shopping in Orange County and so is Little Saigon. Hmmmm is he trying to get us off track from he’s real whereabouts? Like the Staples Center at JT’s concert with Kari? I think maybe so lol